Fight Song...

Yea, this guy is pissed too...

Ain't It The Truth...

got this from an email somewhere...it's the Concession Speech Kerry should have given...

My fellow Americans, the people of this nation have spoken, and spoken
with a clear voice. So I am here to offer my concession. I concede that
I overestimated the intelligence of the American people. Though the
people disagree with the President on almost every issue, you saw fit to
vote for him. I never saw that coming. That's really special. And I mean
"special" in the sense that we use it to describe those kids who ride
the short school bus and find ways to injure themselves while eating
pudding with rubber spoons. That kind of special.

I concede that I misjudged the power of hate. That's pretty powerful
stuff, and I didn't see it. So let me take a moment to congratulate the
President's strategists: Putting the gay marriage amendments on the
ballot in various swing states like Ohio... well, that was just genius.
Genius. It got people, a certain kind of people, to the polls. The
unprecedented number of folks who showed up and cited "moral values" as
their biggest issue, those people changed history. The folks who
consider same sex marriage a more important issue than war, or
terrorism, or the economy... Who'd have thought the election would
belong to them? Well, Karl Rove did. Gotta give it up to him for that.

I concede that I put too much faith in America's youth. With 8 out of 10
of you opposing the President, with your friends and classmates dying
daily in a war you disapprove of, with your future being mortgaged to
pay for rich old peoples' tax breaks, you somehow managed to sit on your
asses and watch the Cartoon Network while aging homophobic hillbillies
carried the day. You voted with the exact same anemic percentage that
you did in 2000. You suck. Seriously, you do.

There are some who would say that I sound bitter, that now is the time
for healing, to bring the nation together. We in blue states produce the
vast majority of the wealth in this country and pay the most taxes, and
you in the red states receive the majority of the money from those taxes
while complaining about 'em. We in the blue states are the only ones
who've been attacked by foreign terrorists, yet you in the red states
are gung ho to fight a war in our name. Blue state civilians are the
actual victims and targets of the war on terror, while red state
civilians are the ones standing behind us and yelling "Oh, yeah!? Bring
it on!"

More than 40% of you Bush voters still believe that Saddam Hussein had
something to do with 9/11. I'm impressed by that, truly I am. Your sons
and daughters who might die in this war know it's not true, the people
in the urban centers where al Qaeda wants to attack know it's not true,
but those of you who are at practically no risk believe this easy lie
because you can. As part of my concession speech, let me say that I
really envy that luxury. I concede that.

Healing? We, the people at risk from terrorists, the people who
subsidize you, the people who speak in glowing and respectful terms
about the heartland of America while that heartland insults and
excoriates us... we wanted some healing. We spoke loud and clear. And
you refused to give it to us, largely because of your high moral values.
You knew better: America doesn't need its allies, doesn't need to share
the burden, doesn't need to unite the world, doesn't need to provide for
its future. Hell no. Not when it's got a human shield of pointy-headed,
atheistic, unconfrontational breadwinners who are willing to pay the
bills and play nice in the vain hope of winning a vote that we can never
have. Because we're "morally inferior," I suppose, we are supposed to
respect your values while you insult ours. And the big joke here is that
for 20 years, we've done just that.

It's not a "ha-ha" funny joke, I realize, but it's a joke all the same.

And I make this pledge to you today: In the next election, there will be
no pandering. Next time we will not pretend that the simple folk of
America know just as much as the people who devote their lives to
serving and studying the nation and the world. They don't.

I'm talking to you, you ignorant, slack-jawed yokels, you
bible-thumping, inbred drones, you redneck, racist, chest-thumping,
perennially duped grade-school grads.

Thank you, and may God, if he does in fact exist, bless each and every one of you.

New Day Dawning...

boy, this map of the U.S., just before the Civil War, sure is telling, isn't it...

eh, save yourself the link.






interesting, eh?

i think these guys might have the right idea too...

New Anger...

I am still in a bit of shock over the events of last night. I'm still unsure how any of this could happen. but apparently, it has happened. i need to get over my lack of comprehension of the election results, and become more productive - anger is on the horizon.

Perhaps it's the Red Bull helping me turn from shock to anger. I just had my first. It tasted nasty. it was foul. how do people drink these things?!?!

Anyway, when i do hit anger, i will not be able to sum it up any better than Meteor Blades at The Daily Kos. He hits the nail on the head.

'Don't Mourn, Organize'
by Meteor Blades
Wed Nov 3rd, 2004 at 10:10:13 GMT

OK. I read thousands of comments and dozens of Diaries last night and this morning. And you know something? I’m going to forget I read most of them. Just erase them from memory along with the names of those who posted them. Chalk them up to adrenaline crashes, too much rage and reefer and booze.

Because what I found in my reading was a plethora of bashing Christians, bashing Kerry, bashing gays, bashing Edwards, bashing Kos, bashing America and bashing each other. As well as a lot of people saying they’re abandoning the Democrats, abandoning politics, abandoning the country. This descent into despair and irrationality and surrender puts icing on the Republican victory cake.

Why were we in this fight in the first place? Because terrible leaders are doing terrible things to our country and calling this wonderful. Because radical reactionaries are trying to impose their imperialist schemes on whoever they wish and calling this just. Because amoral oligarchs are determined to enhance their slice of the economic pie and calling this the natural order. Because flag-wrapped ideologues want to chop up civil liberties and call this security. Because myopians are in charge of America’s future.

We lost on 11/2. Came in second place in a crucial battle whose damage may still be felt decades from now. The despicable record of our foes makes our defeat good reason for disappointment and fear. Even without a mandate over the past four years, they have behaved ruthlessly at home and abroad, failing to listen to objections even from members of their own party. With the mandate of a 3.6-million vote margin, one can only imagine how far their arrogance will take them in their efforts to dismantle 70 years of social legislation and 50+ years of diplomacy.

Still, Tuesday was only one round in the struggle. It’s only the end if we let it be. I am not speaking solely of challenging the votes in Ohio or elsewhere – indeed, I think even successful challenges are unlikely to change the ultimate outcome, which is not to say I don’t think the Democrats should make the attempt. And I’m not just talking about evaluating in depth what went wrong, then building on what was started in the Dean campaign to reinvigorate the grassroots of the Democratic Party, although I also think we must do that. I’m talking about the broader political realm, the realm outside of electoral politics that has always pushed America to live up to its best ideals and overcome its most grotesque contradictions.

Not a few people have spoken in the past few hours about an Americanist authoritarianism emerging out of the country’s current leadership. I think that’s not far-fetched. Fighting this requires that we stick together, not bashing each other, not fleeing or hiding or yielding to the temptation of behaving as if “what’s the use?”

It’s tough on the psyche to be beaten.Throughout our country’s history, abolitionists, suffragists, union organizers, anti-racists, antiwarriors, civil libertarians, feminists and gay rights activists have challenged the majority of Americans to take off their blinders. Each succeeded one way or another, but not overnight, and certainly not without serious setbacks.

After a decent interval of licking our wounds and pondering what might have been and where we went wrong, we need to spit out our despair and return – united - to battling those who have for the moment outmaneuvered us. Otherwise, we might just as well lie down in the street and let them flatten us with their schemes.

Ball of Confusion...

i simply can't wrap my head around the fact that GW Bush has very likely won this presidential election.

seriously - it's something i'm having a tough time grasping. here is a president who people will readily admit has shredded our economy, gotten us into a bad war we may not get out for a long time, and flat out lied to our faces, and yet, we still elect him for president.

in a nutshell - half of this country are fucking numbskull idiots, who are so damned stupid that they can't even see what's going on right in front of them

if GW Bush wins, World, i apologize to you, on behalf of my more inbred and dumbass countrymen. i shall write you a longer letter of apology later.

A Good Night for My Drinkin'...

last presidential election, i went to bed with Al Gore as the president, and woke up with GW Bush as the president.

tonight, i can only hope the opposite is true, and Kerry pulls victory from the jaws of defeat.

Ray of Hope...

Some stations have put Ohio back on the map. a tiny sliver of hope.

Kerry took Michigan and Wisconsin. i have lost the faith and excitement I had most of yesterday, from the moment i voted, until i got home. it was like those couple of hours of transit, where i couldn't track things, everything changed.

Bad News...

they're calling Ohio for Bush...

this is awful. Kerry would have to run the table now to win. and that's unlikely.

fuck.

Long Way To Go, Part IX...

it looks like Florida is going to Bush. man. what has happened to this country? i don't understand people.

Long Way To Go, Part VIII...

ok, now i'm getting worried...ugh. i don't know what i would do if Bush is our president again.

i gotta keep the faith.

Long Way To Go, Part VII...

MSNBC exit poll indicates that the youth did not vote. The 18-29 bracket voted the same this year as in 2000, while 30-44 group was down.

that is bad. :o( very, very bad.

Long Way To Go, Part VI...

Pennsylvania to Kerry. Cali to Kerry. all those random states to Bush.

Ohio. Florida. and even New Hampshire. that's what it comes down to.

Long Way To Go, Part V...

just about 10 pm, and we're no closer to a president then we were a week ago. or a month ago.

Bush is up 170 to 112, but it's nothing to worry about. There are no surprises yet.

It's probably going to come down to Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Florida.

Just like people have been saying all along.

So it's just not time to panic.

Long Way To Go, Part IV....

man, the last two hours - travelling from work to my home, then walking my dog, killed me. i was out of communication! LOL

Right now, Kerry is up 77 to 66. wow. come on!

Long Way To Go, Part III...

more, from Slate...

The 4 p.m. ET exit-poll numbers:

Florida
Kerry 52
Bush 48

Ohio
Kerry 52
Bush 47

Michigan
Kerry 51
Bush 48

Pennsylvania
Kerry 58
Bush 42

Iowa
Kerry 50
Bush 48

Wisconsin
Kerry 53
Bush 47

Minnesota
Kerry 57
Bush 42

New Hampshire
Kerry 58
Bush 41

Maine
Kerry 55
Bush 44

New Mexico
Kerry 49
Bush 49

Nevada
Kerry 48
Bush 49

Colorado
Kerry 49
Bush 50

Arkansas
Kerry 45
Bush 54

North Carolina
Kerry 47
Bush 53

Long Way To Go, Part II....

once again, from mydd.com, via Slate.

Latest Exit Polls from Slate
by Chris Bowers

FL: 50/49 - KERRY
OH: 52/47 - KERRY
MI: 51/48 - KERRY
PA: 58/42 - KERRY
IA: 50/48 - KERRY
WI: 53/47 - KERRY
MN: 57/42 - KERRY
NH: 58/41 - KERRY
ME: 55/44 - KERRY
NM: 49/49 - TIE
NV: 48/49 - BUSH
CO: 49/50 - BUSH
AR: 45/54 - BUSH
NC: 47/53 - BUSH

Long Way To Go...

very very early news and numbers...i am further encouraged. setting myself up for even more joy and elation, or deeper disgust and disappointment.

AZ CO LA PA OH FL MI NM MN WI IA NH
Kerry 45 48 42 60 52 51 51 50 58 52 49 57
Bush 55 51 57 40 48 48 47 48 40 43 49 41

Ohio - African American precincts are performing at 106% what we expected, based on historical numbers. Hispanic precincts are at 144% what we expected. Precincts that went for Gore are turning out 8% higher then those that went Bush in 2000. Democratic base precincts are performing 15% higher than GOP base precincts.

Florida - Dem base precincts are performing 14% better than Bush base precincts. In precincts that went for Gore, they are doing 6% better than those that went for Bush. African American precincts at 109%, Hispanic precincts at 106%.

Pennsylvania - African American precincts at 102% of expectations, Hispanics at 136% of expectations. The Gore precincts are doing 4 percent better than bush precincts.

Michigan- Democratic base precincts are 8% better than GOP base states. Gore precincts are 5% better than Bush.

all information from mydd.com.

Winds of Change...

I dunno, i just feel it in the air. something good is happening in this country. people are voting. people at my precinct were smiling at each other, with nodding approval.

i just feel change is upon us.

i am either going to be ecstatic tomorrow, or really, really, disappointed and sad.

Election Day...

Today's the day. go vote. change the world. if you don't know where to vote in your area, go to mypollingplace.com. it should be able to help.

change the world. TODAY.